Assistant Professor in Fine Art

The University of Gothenburg offers a research environment where internationally recognised excellence meets an open and collaborative culture. Here, early-career researchers are given the conditions to grow, build networks, and contribute to research with global relevance.

This position is part of the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment initiative Gothenburg Global Scholars. Learn more about the initiative and the University here: Gothenburg Global Scholars.

The  Artistic Faculty consists of the departments HDK-Valand – Academy of Art and Design and HSM – Academy of Performing Arts and Music. As a unified faculty for art and learning, we are an independent, visionary and critical force in the necessary work of creating a more sustainable and open society.

HDK-Valand is now looking for an Assistant Professor in Fine Art, who will be part of the unit Craft and Fine Art and attached to the Centre for Art and the Political Imaginary (CAPIm) a joint initiative with our partner Kungl. Konsthögskolan (KKH). The Centre for Art and the Political Imaginary is committed to interdisciplinary practice and research in the meeting between contemporary art and the future of politics. Based at two institutions of higher education in art HDK-Valand and Kungl. Konsthögskolan, the Centre’s aim is to facilitate connections between research and education through an engagement with experimental approaches. It is the first Swedish Centre of Excellence in the field of Artistic Research.

HDK-Valand’s research environment values a broad and inclusive approach whereby knowledge is produced within established research formats, experimental artistic practices and education. Our research contributes to discourses on environmental, societal and cultural challenges through engagement in interdisciplinary projects. Four research themes oriented around politics, the environment, economics and materiality operate as focus areas to facilitate collaboration between different subjects and actors, and to provide a broad base for both research and teaching. An overarching objective at HDK-Valand is the development of a complete academic environment grounded in these themes

More about HDK-Valand here: https://www.gu.se/en/hdk-valand

More about CAPIm here: https://capim.se/en

Subject area

Fine Art

Subject area description

Fine art at HDK-Valand is characterised by the independent artistic practice of artists working individually and collectively. Fine art is typically not guided by functional or commercial imperatives that are external to the practice itself. In addition to bachelor's and master's degree programmes we have a shared commitment to freestanding courses, life-long learning, continued professional development, and research informed education in this subject area. Fine art is also characterised by a lively and broad research culture at HDK-Valand that includes the clusters: (i) Economies: Organizing, Valuating and Working, (ii) Materialities and Experimental Aesthetics, (iii) Environment: Ecological and Climate Challenges, and (iv) Politics, Practices and Publics. The subject thinks broadly and innovatively about forms of making public including but not limited to, exhibition and exhibition-making, publishing and a wide range of organizational, curatorial and mediation practices – taking account of how, where, when, for whom, and by whom art is produced, disclosed and circulated. Fine art fosters moments of exchange between education, research and the wider society.

At HDK-Valand, the subject of fine art encompasses an open concept of artistic practice that includes an expanding variety of formats, genres, media, techniques and traditions such as:

– Public art; community art; collaborative, social and relational practices; and curatorial practice.

Duties

Research tasks (50% of the total employment)

This work to include tasks such as:

Education tasks (50% of the total employment)

Responsibilities and tasks may change over time.

Eligibility

Eligibility for appointment as Assistant Professor is governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg.

Qualification requirements for employment as an Assistant Professor are fulfilled by someone who has been awarded a doctorate in subject or has the corresponding research competence. Primary consideration should be given to someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent competence within seven years of the deadline for application for employment as Assistant Professor. However, someone who has been awarded a doctorate or achieved the equivalent expertise at an earlier date may also be considered if there are special grounds. Special grounds are sick leave, parental leave or other similar circumstances. The reason, dates, and extent of the absence must be clearly specified in the application and supported by documentation/certificates.

Requirements are:

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria for appointment as Assistant Professor are governed by the Higher Education Ordinance and the Appointments Procedure for Teachers at the University of Gothenburg.

We are seeking candidates who have demonstrated the ability to independently initiate, develop, and conduct high-quality research within the subject area of the position.

Assessment will be based primarily on research expertise, secondly on teaching expertise, and thirdly on collaborative and administrative competence.

Research expertise

Research expertise in the fine art context is interpreted according to the norms that apply within the domain of artistic research. Activities such as public exhibition, public performances, participation in international curated projects and dissemination via internationally reputable art platforms and institutions function also as an equivalent for peer review publication in other disciplines.

Research expertise is demonstrated through scholarly publications and current participation in national and international research collaborations. In the assessment of scientific expertise, particular emphasis is placed on high-quality publications with prestigious international publishers and in respected international peer-reviewed journals. The quality, originality, and impact of publications are given greater emphasis than the total number of publications. The ability to obtain external research funding in competition is highly meritorious.

Teaching expertise

Teaching expertise is demonstrated through documented experience of having planned and implemented teaching in various forms (lectures, seminars, supervision, practical workshops, and project-based teaching) at the first-cycle, second-cycle and/or doctoral level within the subject area of the position. When assessing teaching expertise, special emphasis is placed on documented teaching work that has contributed to the development of a course or study programme and its instruction and consequently improved the quality.

Collaboration with the community at large and Administrative Competence

Expertise in collaboration with the wider community is demonstrated, for example, through the ability to develop existing collaborative relationships or to establish new collaborations between academia and relevant societal stakeholders, as well as through the ability to communicate research findings to the public.

Administrative competence refers to experience of academic leadership, such as coordinating research or educational activities, as well as contributing to the development of the department or faculty.

Overall Assessment

A position as Assistant Professor is a career-development position targeting researchers and teachers who defended their doctoral thesis relatively recently. The position will be offered to the candidate who is assessed to have the best prospects for carrying out the duties required in the position, collaborating and cooperating with other staff, and contributing positively to the development of activities based on an overall assessment of their expertise and development potential.

Extensive experience in academic environments outside Sweden is highly meritorious.

Employment

An appointment as Assistant Professor is a fixed-term career-development position. The purpose of the position is to provide the successful candidate with the opportunity to develop their independence as a researcher and to strengthen their scientific and pedagogical qualifications in order to meet the requirements for eligibility for appointment as Senior Lecturer.

The appointment may be extended, but for no more than a total of two years, if additional time is required to fulfil the purpose of the appointment due to sick leave, parental leave, or other special circumstances.

Promotion to Senior Lecturer

An Assistant Professor is entitled, upon application, to be assessed for promotion to a permanent post as a senior lecturer in the same subject area as that of the Assistant Professor post. Promotion requires that the applicant is qualified and suitable for appointment as a senior lecturer within the subject area, in accordance with the Higher Education Ordinance and the University of Gothenburg’s Regulations on the Appointment of Teaching Staff (Ref. No. GU 2024/3252). In addition, the applicant must have been appointed as an Associate Professor (in Swedish: docent) at the Artistic Faculty. The eligibility requirements for the position of Associate Professor (docent) are set out in the document accessible via this link (Ref. No. V 2014/885) Anvisningar docent

Furthermore, the assessment will evaluate whether you have demonstrated proficiency in Swedish at least at level B2 according to the CEFR. This is demonstrated either by passing a language test, the requirements for which are described here common-european-framework-reference-language-skills, or by a certificate from the Head of Department stating that the language test is clearly unnecessary.

Moving to Gothenburg

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden, beautifully situated on the west coast. The city is well known for its friendly atmosphere and high quality of life. Choosing a career in a new country is a major step. Gothenburg offers a welcoming environment and strong support for international talent relocating to the region.

Internationally recruited staff are offered a contracted relocation package and tax advisory services (Global Mobility support).

Move to Gothenburg - a guide for international talents

Welcome Services - support for international staff relocating to Gothenburg

Other information

The position of Assistant Professor is a career-development appointment and constitutes a step in an academic career path designed to enable researchers to develop their independence and establish their own research profile, with the right to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Senior Lecturer. At the University of Gothenburg, Senior Lecturers are also eligible to be assessed for promotion to a permanent position as Full Professor.

To support a healthy work–life balance, we offer academic freedom, flexible working arrangements, and generous annual leave. Employees are also entitled to a range of benefits, including a wellness allowance, supplementary parental benefits, and an occupational pension scheme. For more information about employment benefits at the University of Gothenburg, please visit: Employment benefits | University of Gothenburg

If you do not have formal training in academic teaching, you will be given the opportunity to undertake such training as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

If you do not have proficiency in Swedish at a minimum of level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), you will be offered language courses as part of your employment. Participation in these courses is mandatory.

Selection process

Eligibility screening of applicants will take place after the application deadline. The application documents of eligible candidates will subsequently be submitted to external reviewers for assessment.

As part of the selection process, in addition to expert assessment and interviews, trial lectures and reference checks may also be conducted.

Interviews are planned to take place during early December.

Contact information

If you have any questions regarding the position, please contact Prof. Mick Wilson, mick.wilson@akademinvaland.gu.se

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR at HDK-Valand: hr@hdk-valand.gu.se

Unions

Information about union representatives at the University of Gothenburg is available here.

Applications

You apply for the position through the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that their application is complete in accordance with the advertisement and that it is submitted no later than the application deadline.

Please submit your application in English, as it will be reviewed by external reviewers whose working language is English.

Publications that cannot be attached to the application online should be sent to:

HDK-Valand

Box 131

405 30

and must be received by the deadline.

Application deadline: 30 October 2026

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.